Police beat and community briefs for Jan. 3, 2013

Published: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, January 2, 2013 at 11:27 p.m.

POLICE BEAT

Boy with rifle causes outage

SILVER SPRINGS SHORES — A 12-year-old boy shot a rifle Tuesday afternoon and hit a 69,000-volt transmission line — causing almost 6,000 customers in Lynne, Silver Springs Shores, Silver Springs and Ockawaha to lose service for several hours, according to a news release from the Clay Electric Co-op.

Progress Energy owns the transmission line, but it supplies power to Clay Electric’s Lynne substation near State Road 40 and County Road 314A, the release said.

In all, 5,689 commercial and residential accounts were affected. The outage began at 1:34 p.m., and full service was back by 6:10 p.m. Progress crews had to repair the line.

“The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has classified the incident as accidental, since the youth claimed he was shooting the rifle at tree limbs and was not targeting the transmission line,” the release said.

Clay Electric serves approximately 165,000 members in 14 counties including Marion.

Two crash victims remain in hospital

A man and woman injured in separate crashes in late December remained hospitalized Wednesday.

Maria Luz Ausua-Vega, of Silver Springs Shores, was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center on Saturday afternoon after the Yamaha YZ 85 dirt bike she was riding crashed into the front of a home.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said they believe Ausua-Vega was riding on Pine Close when, for an unknown reason, she ran the stop sign at the intersection of Pine Close and Cedar Road. The motorcycle went across the front lawn at 69 Cedar Road and slammed into the front wall. Ausua-Vega was not wearing a helmet.

Suzanne Santangelo, spokeswoman for ORMC, said Ausua-Vega remained hospitalized in critical condition.

John Bronzi, seriously injured in a Dec. 21 crash on Southwest 27th Avenue, also remained at ORMC in critical condition.

Bronzi was riding a Harley-Davidson south on Southwest 27th Avenue while a Ford F-150 driven by Jeffrey Scott Senules of Beverly Hills was heading north on the roadway. Authorities said Senules was turning left into Toys R Us and turned into the path of the motorcycle, which crashed into the back passenger door of the truck. Bronzi, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected. Senules was not injured.

COMMUNITY

Funeral will be held Saturday for soldier

The funeral for Army Pfc. Markie T. Sims, of Citra, who was killed in Afghanistan, is slated for Saturday.

The solider’s mother, Wanda Thompson, said services for her son will begin at 1 p.m. at United Baptist Church in Reddick.

Sims, 20, was killed when an improvised bomb exploded next to his vehicle. He was assigned to the U.S. Army’s 38th Engineering Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

Sims played football while attending North Marion High School and later graduated from Marion Technical Institute in 2011.

Crews will begin road improvement work Monday on U.S. 301 between County Road 329 — where U.S. 441 and U.S. 301 split — and Northeast 172nd Place.

“The enhancements include the removal of the top layer of the current roadway and the laying down of new asphalt. In addition, there will be drainage and signalization upgrades,” the state Department of Transportation said in a news release.

The contractor for the $3.4 million project, Anderson Columbia, is expected to work 170 calendar days, weather permitting.

Naval Sea Cadet Corps open for interested youth

The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Manatee Division is an organization for youth ages 11 to 17 who are interested in the maritime services.

Cadets wear Navy uniforms and gain rank as they train and learn new skills, and earn ribbons for outstanding performance in training, academics and community service.

The division drills the second full weekend of each month. Those who are interested can observe training weekends on Jan. 12-13 or Feb. 9-10 at U.S. Coast Guard Station Yankeetown. For more information, call 212-5473 or visit www.manateediv.org.

Citra nonprofit outreach is seeking donations

S.O.S. Community Outreach Inc., a nonprofit based in Citra, seeks donations so it can provide clients with food, gas, utilities, rent and other needs. Donations are tax deductible.

The outreach operates a thrift store at 17860 NE 22nd Court, Citra. For more information, call 509-6032 or visit www.soscommunityoutreach.org.

‘Martha Washington’ to show up at Woman’s Club

The day and evening groups of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Ocala will meet Tuesday at the Elks Club and Lodge at 702 NE 25th Ave., Ocala. Club member Dee Collier will portray Martha Washington, the wife President George Washington, at each meeting.

The Day Group will meet for a luncheon at 11:45 a.m. For reservations, call 347-3975.

The Evening Group and Little Women Juniorettes will meet for a buffet at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call 629-7397 or email ocaladowns@yahoo.com.

Safe-driving courses open for 50 and older

AARP safe-driving courses are open to those 50 and older. Upcoming classes include:

Jan. 24-25, noon, Master the Possibilities, 8415 SW 80th St., Ocala (854-3699). The fee is $12 for members and $14 for nonmembers.

Call the listed number to register.

For additional times and locations, visit www.aarp.org/drive.

Series of courses for new gardeners to be offered

A series for those new to gardening or gardening in Central Florida will be taught by UF/IFAS Marion County faculty and Master Gardeners from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28-Feb. 1 at 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala.

The fee is $25 per person or $40 per couple, which covers materials.

The deadline to register is Jan. 18.

For more information, call 671-8400 or email donna.redner@marioncountyfl.org.

STATE

Homeowner shoots naked intruder

MIAMI — A naked intruder shot after allegedly attacking a Miami family’s dog and trying to bite its owner is refusing to cooperate with authorities.

The homeowner heard the dog barking around 5 a.m. Wednesday and went to investigate. Police say the homeowner saw the naked man trying to choke the animal and rushed to free it. That’s when police say the naked man bit the homeowner.

The homeowner told police he feared for his life and shot the intruder while other family members called 911.

The intruder was hit once but continued to put up a fight as officers arrived. He eventually was arrested and taken to a hospital, where refused to provide his name.

<p class="bold allcaps">POLICE BEAT</p>
<p><b>Boy with rifle causes outage</b></p><p>SILVER SPRINGS SHORES — A 12-year-old boy shot a rifle Tuesday afternoon and hit a 69,000-volt transmission line — causing almost 6,000 customers in Lynne, Silver Springs Shores, Silver Springs and Ockawaha to lose service for several hours, according to a news release from the Clay Electric Co-op.</p><p>Progress Energy owns the transmission line, but it supplies power to Clay Electric's Lynne substation near State Road 40 and County Road 314A, the release said.</p><p>In all, 5,689 commercial and residential accounts were affected. The outage began at 1:34 p.m., and full service was back by 6:10 p.m. Progress crews had to repair the line.</p><p>“The Marion County Sheriff's Office has classified the incident as accidental, since the youth claimed he was shooting the rifle at tree limbs and was not targeting the transmission line,” the release said. </p><p>Clay Electric serves approximately 165,000 members in 14 counties including Marion.</p><p><b>Two crash victims remain in hospital</b></p><p>A man and woman injured in separate crashes in late December remained hospitalized Wednesday.</p><p>Maria Luz Ausua-Vega, of Silver Springs Shores, was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center on Saturday afternoon after the Yamaha YZ 85 dirt bike she was riding crashed into the front of a home.</p><p>Florida Highway Patrol troopers said they believe Ausua-Vega was riding on Pine Close when, for an unknown reason, she ran the stop sign at the intersection of Pine Close and Cedar Road. The motorcycle went across the front lawn at 69 Cedar Road and slammed into the front wall. Ausua-Vega was not wearing a helmet.</p><p>Suzanne Santangelo, spokeswoman for ORMC, said Ausua-Vega remained hospitalized in critical condition. </p><p>John Bronzi, seriously injured in a Dec. 21 crash on Southwest 27th Avenue, also remained at ORMC in critical condition.</p><p>Bronzi was riding a Harley-Davidson south on Southwest 27th Avenue while a Ford F-150 driven by Jeffrey Scott Senules of Beverly Hills was heading north on the roadway. Authorities said Senules was turning left into Toys R Us and turned into the path of the motorcycle, which crashed into the back passenger door of the truck. Bronzi, who was wearing a helmet, was ejected. Senules was not injured.</p><h3>COMMUNITY</h3>
<p><b>Funeral will be held Saturday for soldier</b></p><p>The funeral for Army Pfc. Markie T. Sims, of Citra, who was killed in Afghanistan, is slated for Saturday.</p><p>The solider's mother, Wanda Thompson, said services for her son will begin at 1 p.m. at United Baptist Church in Reddick.</p><p>Sims, 20, was killed when an improvised bomb exploded next to his vehicle. He was assigned to the U.S. Army's 38th Engineering Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.</p><p>Sims played football while attending North Marion High School and later graduated from Marion Technical Institute in 2011.</p><p>Sims is survived by Thompson; wife Shakeli Sims; father Henry Sims; grandparents Randolph and Ella Mae Thompson; brothers Henry Sims Jr. and Demarrio Sims, both of Reddick, Defonzio Sims, of California, and Henry Lee Daniels, of Ocala; and sister Lashay Daniels, of Gainesville.</p><p><b>Improvements to roads in Citra start Monday</b></p><p>Crews will begin road improvement work Monday on U.S. 301 between County Road 329 — where U.S. 441 and U.S. 301 split — and Northeast 172nd Place.</p><p>“The enhancements include the removal of the top layer of the current roadway and the laying down of new asphalt. In addition, there will be drainage and signalization upgrades,” the state Department of Transportation said in a news release.</p><p>The contractor for the $3.4 million project, Anderson Columbia, is expected to work 170 calendar days, weather permitting.</p><p>Naval Sea Cadet Corps open for interested youth</p><p>The U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Manatee Division is an organization for youth ages 11 to 17 who are interested in the maritime services. </p><p>Cadets wear Navy uniforms and gain rank as they train and learn new skills, and earn ribbons for outstanding performance in training, academics and community service.</p><p>The division drills the second full weekend of each month. Those who are interested can observe training weekends on Jan. 12-13 or Feb. 9-10 at U.S. Coast Guard Station Yankeetown. For more information, call 212-5473 or visit www.manateediv.org.</p><p><b>Citra nonprofit outreach is seeking donations</b></p><p>S.O.S. Community Outreach Inc., a nonprofit based in Citra, seeks donations so it can provide clients with food, gas, utilities, rent and other needs. Donations are tax deductible.</p><p>The outreach operates a thrift store at 17860 NE 22nd Court, Citra. For more information, call 509-6032 or visit www.soscommunityoutreach.org.</p><p><b>'Martha Washington' to show up at Woman's Club</b></p><p>The day and evening groups of the GFWC Woman's Club of Ocala will meet Tuesday at the Elks Club and Lodge at 702 NE 25th Ave., Ocala. Club member Dee Collier will portray Martha Washington, the wife President George Washington, at each meeting.</p><p>The Day Group will meet for a luncheon at 11:45 a.m. For reservations, call 347-3975.</p><p>The Evening Group and Little Women Juniorettes will meet for a buffet at 6:30 p.m. For reservations, call 629-7397 or email ocaladowns@yahoo.com.</p><p><b>Safe-driving courses open for 50 and older</b></p><p>AARP safe-driving courses are open to those 50 and older. Upcoming classes include:</p><p>Jan. 10-11, 8 a.m., Sheriff's Office, 9048 W. State Road 200, Ocala, (237-2971)</p><p>Jan. 22-23, 1 p.m. Rainbow Lakes Estates Clubhouse, 9514 SW Rainbow Lakes Blvd., Dunnellon. (489-1574)</p><p>Jan. 24-25, noon, Master the Possibilities, 8415 SW 80th St., Ocala (854-3699). The fee is $12 for members and $14 for nonmembers.</p><p>Call the listed number to register.</p><p>For additional times and locations, visit www.aarp.org/drive.</p><p><b>Series of courses for new gardeners to be offered</b></p><p>A series for those new to gardening or gardening in Central Florida will be taught by UF/IFAS Marion County faculty and Master Gardeners from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28-Feb. 1 at 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala.</p><p>The fee is $25 per person or $40 per couple, which covers materials.</p><p>The deadline to register is Jan. 18.</p><p>For more information, call 671-8400 or email donna.redner@marioncountyfl.org.</p><h3>STATE</h3>
<p><b>Homeowner shoots naked intruder</b></p><p>MIAMI — A naked intruder shot after allegedly attacking a Miami family's dog and trying to bite its owner is refusing to cooperate with authorities. </p><p>The homeowner heard the dog barking around 5 a.m. Wednesday and went to investigate. Police say the homeowner saw the naked man trying to choke the animal and rushed to free it. That's when police say the naked man bit the homeowner. </p><p>The homeowner told police he feared for his life and shot the intruder while other family members called 911. </p><p>The intruder was hit once but continued to put up a fight as officers arrived. He eventually was arrested and taken to a hospital, where refused to provide his name. </p><p><i>— The Associated Press</i></p>